What can one say about the big five oh? Half way to the century mark? Ten years older than “older than dirt”? Just getting started?

Yeah, I like that last one Sis. Congratulations on finally getting to the jumping off point of life. All you gotta do is get the ol’ knees and hips to do their part.

Fifty years ago my baby sister was born. Our mom hadn’t gone into labor or anything like that as we are both adopted. I actually remember the excitement level as the expected time grew closer. Our folks had taken in three girls from a family who’s mother was placed in a TB sanitarium. Their father couldn’t take care of them for some reason that I never knew or can’t remember. They ranged from my age at the time, 7, to 5 and then I think 3. It was gonna get real crowded, quick!

Not to worry. Three days after she was born Sis came home. Having the other three foster sisters around for over a year had already given me an attitude adjustment so I don’t remember going through the usual conniptions that an only child will have when faced with a new sibling. She was a cute little thing.

Over the years we developed our relationship I think about as good as kids seven years apart can. When I graduated from high school and left to live in Tulsa she was only 11. Looking back, that must have been rough. I was always a bit, make that a lot, too self-focused back then and once out of there I didn’t look back all that much.

Over the years we occasionally got closer, then drifted apart. One special period of closeness was when my son was born. She came over quite a bit and helped out with the baby. Not all that long after that I moved out west, became an Okie on the lam in Southern California. She and her husband moved to Atlanta, becoming Okies on the lam themselves.

Five years ago last Nov. and Dec., we both made the quest, twice, to be with our mom as she suffered her last few weeks on this side of the great divide. We probably became closer during those few weeks that we had been since childhood.

I messed up and forgot that Mon. was a post office holiday, so her card is going to be late. Guess ol’ dogs really don’t learn new tricks all that well, huh? I’ll call her and tell her to read this post, if she hasn’t already.

Happy birthday, Sis! I love you! Lots!

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 am and is filed under Odds & Ends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.  |   Print This Post  |   Email This Post

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